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As much as we’ve been talking about food lately on “In the D” (what else is new?), physical fitness is still important! The holidays are a busy time for everyone, and if you can squeeze a trip to the gym into your daily routine, I’d say you’re doing better than most of us.
If you’re looking for a fun way to get some exercise in, why not participate in a holiday-themed run? There are plenty of Christmas and New Year’s fun runs and walks coming up in the Metro Detroit area over the next few weeks. Let’s take a look:
The Santa Hat Hustle will take place in Royal Oak tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 13. The inaugural event includes a 5K run/walk, 1 mile Santa stroll and kids ¼ mile Donner Dash. Downtown Royal Oak will be converted into a winter wonderland, complete with Santa and his reindeer, Christmas trees and more.
In addition to the run, the event will include pictures with Santa, holiday costume contests, face painting, Christmas carols and more. Online registration is currently closed, but interested participants can sign up at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church School between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. today, and tomorrow beginning at 7 a.m. Registration costs $25 to $45 depending on the race (the Donner Dash is free for children with registration).
The first race, the 5K run/walk, kicks off at 8:30 a.m. A post-race warm-up party will be held until 11:30 a.m., and a Santa Pub Crawl from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Run Like the Dickens, a 10K run, 5K run and 5K walk, is being held in Holly this weekend as well. The first race begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13. The event is fun for the whole family, and even features a Tiny Tim Trot kids race, which costs $10 and includes a t-shirt and medal.
The race costs $35 with a long sleeve shirt, $20 without, and you can still register online. The good news is, if your little ones aren’t interested in participating in the race, you can still run the 10K or 5K without worry. The Holly High School Track and Field team is providing babysitting services during races, in case you need someone to watch your little ones.
New Year’s Resolutions Race, an event put on by the Downtown Flint YMCA, will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 31. Ring in 2015 by doing something good for yourself! The event will include an 8K run and 5K walk, so whether you’re super in shape or looking to get yourself fit for the new year, you can sign up without fear.
Early registration must be postmarked by Wednesday, Dec. 24, and fees increase $5 afterwards. Registration costs $10 to $25 depending on whether you order a sweatshirt or not. Click the link above to sign up!
All proceeds from the race will benefit Crim Training Program Scholarships.
Fifth Third Bank 45th Annual Belle Isle New Year’s Eve Family Fun Run/Walk is known as the longest continuously held run in the state of Michigan. It includes various races, like a Children’s Fun Run and Open Fun Run, as well as 5K run/walk.
All kids age 12 and under who participate will receive trophies, and the top three men and women finishers in the 5K race will be awarded gift certificates for Hanson’s Running Shop. The first 1,000 registered racers will all receive commemorative awards, and everyone who preregisters receives a long sleeve shirt with the registration fee.
Registration is available online and costs $15 for children 12 and under, $30 for adults 13 and older through Sunday, Dec. 21, and $35 for adults 13 and older after Sunday, Dec. 21.
New Year’s Eve Midnight Run Flash Mob 5K is unlike any race you’ve ever participated in, or any New Year’s Eve party you’ve ever attended. The event begins at midnight at Bar Louie in Ann Arbor, where you can run a 3.1-mile course for the very low price of free! It’s an incredibly casual event in the sense that it doesn’t require registration, any fees, and is very unofficial.
While there is no required fee to race, the folks putting it on do suggest making a donation to their charity partner, Habitat for Humanity. Anyone who donates a minimum of $35 will receive entrance to Bar Louie’s patio for a breakfast buffet with champagne after the race. You can make your donation online in advance by clicking the above link.
A few more races you might want to put on your calendar for the following year include:
- Commitment Day 5K in Farmington Hills on Thursday, Jan. 1
- New Year’s Resolution Run in Lake Orion on Thursday, Jan. 1
- Auto Show Shuffle in Detroit on Saturday, Jan. 17
- Sno Glo Retro 5K Run in Harrison Township on Saturday, Jan. 17
- Livonia Arctic Chill Indoor Triathlon on Sunday, Jan. 25
Good luck, Metro Detroiters, and don’t forget to stretch!
